Structure and fluxional behaviour of heptaleneirontricarbonyl and heptalenebis (Irontricarbonyl)

Abstract The synthesis of heptaleneirontricarbonyl ( 4 ) is described. The structures of 4 and of the closely related heptalenebis(irontricarbonyl) ( 3 ) are elucidated by NMR spectroscopy ( 1H and 13C) and by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 3 and 4 are shown by dynamic NMR to undergo an isodynamic 1 ,2-migration of the Fe(CO3)-groups as well as a carbonyl scrambling. The relevant kinetic data allow for a mechanistic discussion of the dynamics and a comparison with other irontricarbonyl complexes.